UFC on FOX 8's Rory MacDonald unconcerned with what may be on the line

Rory MacDonald said he’s only trying to please himself when it comes to expectations of where he’ll end up in the UFC’s welterweight division.

A lot of people seem very concerned about that question, but the way he sees it, the answer is his and his alone.

“I’ve worked hard to get where I am, and I want to prove to myself that I’m there,” MacDonald said at an open workout for UFC on FOX 8, where he meets fellow top contender Jake Ellenberger.

“As far as what people say or think, I can’t control that. I’ve been winning my fights lately, and doing it in good fashion, so I think that’s why I’m here. We’ll see on Saturday night.”

Ellenberger (29-6 MMA, 8-2 UFC) has said a lot about MacDonald (14-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC), whom he believes has built his reputation on overweight and over-the-hill fighters.

“Let’s be real here – anybody who’s not in shape can make you look pretty good. I’m just a realist,” said Ellenberger, who went after his upcoming opponent on Twitter in the weeks leading up to the fight.

As such, Ellenberger promises to do an MMA version of “Mythbusters” on the 24-year-old fighter.

“Not that I don’t respect what this kid is good at,” Ellenberger said. “I acknowledge that. He’s got a lot more to worry about than me. I’m not going in there worried about one thing that he’s going to do. I’m going to do in there and do my job and take care of business.”

Asked whether Ellenberger’s opinion that his wins over the former (Nate Diaz) and latter (B.J. Penn) aren’t nearly as impressive in that light, MacDonald said, “I guess so” and admitted that he had a strength advantage in fights that did much to reassert his status as a possible future champ.

But MacDonald also added that UFC matchmaker isn’t exactly part of his job description.

“They’re definitely smaller guys, but they chose to fight me at that weight, and my job is to fight who the UFC puts in front of me, so I really have no control over that,” MacDonald said. “I think they were good fights, and they are talented fighters, but they are smaller than me, so I have an advantage in size.

“That’s all it is. I’m doing my job. I’ve also fought some big guys, too, like Che Mills, who’s got to be one of the biggest welterweights in the division. He’s massive, and so strong.”

Whatever the case, the soon-to-be opponents should meet on even footing when it comes to bulk. Ellenberger’s wrestling and heavy hands are the chief foil to MacDonald, who’s well-roundedness and grappling prowess is frequently compared to his training partner, champ Georges St-Pierre.

MacDonald, however, wants to stay his own man. He said he’s cultivated a life outside of fighting, which includes interests in art, investing, and survivalist TV shows.

“I get pulled into things all the time,” he said.

Of course, he’s been pulled a variety of directions since making his UFC debut at the tender age of 20, but he’s ultimately blazed a trail from his native Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, to Montreal, where he trains alongside St-Pierre and a variety of top-tier fighters.

MacDonald might be closer than ever to the point where he’ll need to address his immediate future, as the bout’s winner could be in line for a title shot. But for now, he’s simply focused on beating Ellenberger.

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